“I never...”
“Enough, both of you,” Derek yelled into the room. Kala could hear Derek’s pacing. He sounded angry or worried, or perhaps even a bit of both. “You are both acting like children right now. Accusations and blame will get us nowhere. We need answers to find out who did this to you, Kala, and you will stay uninvolved in the matter.”
“I’m involved in this up to my eyeballs, literally. I want to get the bastard who did this to me.”
“Are you going to cry again?” Derek asked worriedly.
“No. Crying, I found it, gets you nothing but a headache and burning, puffy eyes. Neither of which I need to deal with right now.”
“Why did you let Southerby escort you?”
“I enjoy his company.”
“You are too trusting,” condemnation reeked from Gabe’s voice.
“Because I like Justin? Please, give me some credit. Justin would never hurt me.” Her voice came out unsure even to her ears. Damn the man for making her doubt herself. “I would rather spend time with Justin than Lord Frederick Dewhurst.”
“That man is a menace,” now Derek sounded put out.
“Yes, he is. Let us not forget that McKenzie has also been squiring me about.”
“Just to irritate me,” Gabriel muttered.
“Is it so hard for you to believe that a man might actually be attracted to me, even though you aren’t?” She paused, putting a capable hand in the air before she continued, “Oh wait, yes it is, because I’m simply the ‘pest’. The little hoyden in pigtails that chased after you two,” she stood and moved forward, aiming towards where Gabe had been standing. She held her hand out flat until she felt the firmness of his chest. She refused to acknowledge the tingle of awareness that traveled up her arm to other places in her body, and instead pointed her finger and began punching him in the chest with it.
“Let’s get this straight right now. I am a woman,” she accented each word with a stab of her finger. “This may be surprising to the both of you, but men like me. And yes, I like men. Especially those who do not discourage me from thinking for myself, or demand that I live my life within certain parameters. It is my life. Do you understand? Perhaps Justin will even let me help him if he is involved in nefarious activities.”
“You would be wrong,” a new voice entered the conversation from the doorway.
“What are you doing here,” she heard Gabe question at the same time she said, “Oh great.” She threw up her hands and plopped back down into the chair she had just vacated.
“I’m here to check on Mikala.”
“I’m fine. I can’t see the hand in front of my face, but I’m fine. Would you care to join in on the Spanish Inquisition? It is really quite titillating,” she said sarcastically.
“Kala, that’s enough,” Derek reprimanded.
“I am not a child to be reprimanded, brother.”
“Then stop acting like one. We are trying to get to the bottom of who did this to you. You could at least be a little more humble.”
“Humble?” Her gravelly voice began rising in decibels. “Humble? I should feel humbled for losing my sight because I tried to rid England of a traitor? That’s rich Derek. Perhaps, I should also bestow a gift on the person who did this to me, shall I?” A thought just floored her. She stood once again and addressed Gabe, “If your little French hussy is responsible for this, I will scratch her eyes out and then she will know what it feels like.”
“It’s not her.”
“How can you be so sure?” She questioned. “Letting your feelings interfere with the truth? Oh, wait, that’s right. Since you became a duke, you don’t have feelings anymore do you? That is for those lowlier than you. So you must be letting other, more physical things interfere.”
“My God, Kala, that is enough,” Derek interjected.
“I have heard enough,” Gabe said, and she heard his footsteps echo out of the room.
“I haven’t had that much fun in quite some time,” for the first time during the whole questioning process Richard spoke.
“Kala, that was bad form all the way around,” her brother used his reproving voice once again. She defiantly tilted her chin in the air. “I give up.” She could not see him toss his arms in the air but knew he did. He often used that gesture when dealing with her.
“Southerby, why don’t you take Mikala into the parlor? Blackburn and I have some things we need to discuss.”
“Certainly. Mikala?” She felt him take her hand and place it on his firm arm and lead her from the room. Once they were settled in the parlor, in chairs facing each other, Southerby started in as well. “Kala, weren’t you a little hard on Hawkescliffe?”
“Stay out of it, Justin.”
“He just wants to protect you.” Kala sat in silence. There were too many men in her life wanting to protect her. Justin’s voice halted her scattered thoughts. “Kala, there is something you should know.”
“What is it?”
“I truly care for you and. . .”
She cut him off before he could continue. “Justin, you are a wonderful friend. I couldn’t ask for a better one, but I don’t love you. And I refuse to saddle you with an invalid.”
“I see. Well, that’s good to know before I made a fool out of myself unnecessarily.” Did she mistake the hint of coldness that entered his voice? “But I wanted to offer guards to help watch the house and your family.” Definitely cold.
“Sorry,” she tried to sound demure, but came off lacking a bit. “Thank you, but no. Besides, why did you never tell me you worked for the Foreign Office?”
“You never asked what I did, remember?”
“So now you are putting the blame on me? Is it truly the woman’s responsibility in any relationship to do all the thinking? And would it have done any good if I had asked? Or would you have come up with some asinine story?”
“Quit being hostile.”
“Hostile?”
“I think I’ll come back later.” She heard the chair squeak as he stood and his boot heels left a tattoo sound in the still air within the parlor. “Can I give you a word of advice?”
“You will regardless.” She shrugged, peeved at the world in general.
“If I were you I would evaluate my attitude and the reasons those around me do the things they do. You might find yourself surprised.” She heard the parlor door open and close and fading steps on the marble foyer floor. Standing, she tried to pace, but continually bumped into furniture. After finally reaching the mantle of the fireplace, she grabbed one of the knick-knacks in frustration and drew her arm back.
“Don’t you dare throw that, or you will get the thrashing you need.”
Chapter 13
Drucilla’s voice came from the doorway. In a matter of seconds Kala felt the object taken from her. She heard a soft thud indicating it had been put back in place. Kala felt her hand being taken and she was pulled across the room.
“Where are we going?”
“Outside,” Drucilla said, instructing Kala when to step down. “If you want to throw something, there are good sized rocks under your feet and no one else is out here. Just stay facing the way you are right now.”
“This is foolish.”
“Exactly.”
“Are we really going to start this again? This is a conspiracy.”
“As a matter of fact, we have not had the opportunity to discuss you all that much. Regardless of what you think right now, the world does not revolve solely around you. So whatever we think is as five individuals.”
“Six. Justin,” she added as an explanation.
“Kala, I know you’re bitter about what happened.”
“Bitter? Bitter does not even begin to cover how I feel.”
“Yes, well, you are going to have to get over it if you want whoever did this to you brought to justice.”
She felt deflated at the words Dru spoke.
“Dru have you ever been betrayed by someone close to you?”
&nbs
p; “Yes. Perhaps not in the same manner as you have, but a betrayal is a betrayal, and it is hard to overcome. But when you do, you will be a better person for it.”
“Dru? Dru?” Richard’s voice reached them on the terrace.
“We’re out here,” Dru called back.
“Kala, your parents have just arrived.”
“Great.” Richard held out an arm for each woman and guided them inside. Soon Kala found herself wrapped in the arms of her father.
“My baby girl,” Michael Simmons crooned. He stood almost as tall as Derek and had that same muscular build. She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and felt the comfort of his old tweed jacket on her skin. Kala inhaled deeply, taking in the smell of his pipe tobacco, and it automatically soothed her wayward emotions.
Too soon he transferred her to her mother, who held herself a little more aloof when she hugged her. Her mother loved her, she just never knew what to do with a tomboy for a daughter. Her mother smelled of roses and Kala found herself craving the smell of tobacco once more.
“Didn’t I tell you you would get yourself into trouble one day? Why couldn’t you be more like Elizabeth?”
“Martha,” her father reprimanded her mother. And this is how her entire life had passed. Every time she got into some sort of scrape her mother had compared her to Elizabeth. Elizabeth, the perfect, genteel daughter. Perfect enough to be the wife of a minister. And every time, her father, bless his soul, would come to her defense. How she loved him for that.
“Thank you mother for asking, but I feel fine,” she replied calmly, breaking away from her.
“Well, there’s no need to be cheeky. I still can’t get over how your voice sounds now,” she tisked.
“It’s growing on me,” Kala said.
She heard a rustling of fabric and then, “Hello, Michael,” and she knew Dru hugged her most beloved brother.
“Sis, how are you?”
“Wonderful.”
“She’s working on making you an uncle again,” Kala put in hoping to take some of the focus off her.
The front door opened and Kala heard her brother exclaim, “Mama, Papa!” Although she could not see, she clearly saw the scene in her mind. Derek would hug Mama first, then he would hold out his hand to Papa. Papa would take it, then pull him in and pound his back in a bear hug. Seconds later, she heard the pounding.
“Mama, Papa, I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family. My wife, Tessa. Tessa, my parents, Michael and Martha Simmons.” Exclamations of happiness echoed from both of her parents and Tessa. Kala felt herself fading into the background without ever moving a muscle.
“Kala, you are coming home with us,” her mother commanded some minutes later.
“No, Mama, I’m not.”
“Kala is more than welcome to join us at Blackburn Hall,” Derek announced.
“Or us at Whitestone Manor,” Richard added.
“Thank you everyone, but I am not going with anyone.”
“Why not?” Derek demanded an answer.
“I refuse to put anyone in danger. Let’s admit it, whoever did this is still very likely out there. They also know that I am alive and still have information. I refuse to be responsible for something inadvertently happening to anyone in my family.”
“But what about us?” Her father asked sounding a little desperate.
“The term will be starting up soon and I will not risk the lives of any children for my safety.” Kala reached out her arm in his direction, allowing him to anchor her to him once more. For just a few minutes she would allow herself to be weak, to let someone else be strong for her.
“Then what do you plan to do?”
“I honestly don’t know,” she heard the small quaver in her voice and quickly cleared her throat.
“You could stay here,” Richard offered.
“Not without a companion,” her mother put in.
“Mama, that is an excellent idea!”
“I didn’t really mean you could stay here Kala.”
“But it’s perfect. If Richard and Dru will allow me, I will stay here. Hopefully, I can find a suitable companion before everyone leaves.”
“Kala, are you certain about this? You have always known your mind, but circumstances are different this time,” Mr. Simmons broached the subject cautiously.
“Papa, I’m certain.” Kala gave him a hard squeeze that he returned. “Besides, Gabe is just across the square and I’m sure my sight will be returning quickly,” she said with more confidence than she felt.
“I will send a footman to the agency immediately setting forth what we are looking for.”
“Thank you, Dru.”
“Anything for my favorite niece.”
“Am I still?”
“Of course. You can be irritating sometimes, but yes, you are still my favorite.” Kala could hear the entire group laugh, all except for Martha, who Kala knew would have a slight disapproving look on her face.
***
It took almost a week to find a companion for Kala that everyone could agree on. A widow woman by the name of Mrs. McGafferty won the position. She had a daughter but didn’t want to be a burden to her, so she applied for this position. Her mother had gone blind late in life, and that fact had endeared her to Kala. Her husband had been in the military, and she knew her way around weapons and that had endeared her to everyone else. She was hard of hearing though and Kala found herself shouting excessively to be heard.
The day after Mrs. McGafferty had been hired she exchanged goodbyes with Derek, Tessa, and her parents. She promised to send a messenger if she needed anything, but held her fingers crossed behind her back. She refused to involve them anymore than she already had. Dru and Richard would be leaving with the children the next day for Whitestone Manor. Needless to say, the house was in upheaval.
Kala sat in a chair in her room, holding a candleholder with a lit candle. She had made a discovery the other day, but didn’t want to share it with anyone. She could actually make out light and darkness now rather than total, suffocating blackness. She did not hold her breath that this would guarantee her sight, but at least she had hope.
She played with the candle, bringing it in and out of her line of vision, if you could call it that. She saw no flame, only a brightness that she imagined could be associated with the flame. A knock sounded on the door and Kala quickly blew out the candle before she placed it on the table next to the chair. The door opened and she could see a dim brightness floating in the air.
“I wanted to come say goodbye tonight,” she quickly recognized Dru’s voice. “Richard plans an early start in the morning.”
Kala let out an audible sigh, stood and held out her arms to feel Dru’s surround her in a few seconds. “I will miss you terribly.”
“Kala, I’m sorry for all I said.”
“Don’t apologize. You were right. I just found it more difficult to hear you say it rather than mother and Elizabeth.” She heard Dru sniffle. “Dru, honestly, I’ll be fine and you didn’t say anything that I didn’t need to hear.”
“Ignore me,” she sniffled again. “Lately I’m a veritable watering pot. Richard can look at me funny and I cry.”
“Poor Richard.”
“Quite. You know it’s not too late to change your mind and come with us.”
“No. You all need family time together. I have encroached long enough.”
“Family doesn’t encroach.”
“Yes, they do, but I love you for trying to deny it.”
“I love you, too.”
“Now, go to bed and get some rest. You have a long day ahead of you. I will see you all at Christmas at Blackburn Hall.”
“You will send for us if you need anything won’t you?”
“Of course,” and again her fingers were crossed behind her back. She sat back down in the chair, thinking. Perhaps she really had run everyone off just because she felt the need to be independent regardless of an infirmity. Gabe, Justin, McKenzie,
nor Dewhurst had come by in a week or longer. She couldn’t say that she missed Dewhurst, but at least he would have proven a distraction. She thought she could at least count on Justin, but apparently not. McKenzie had not made an appearance since before her accident, which she found odd.
She changed into the nightgown that one of the maids had put across the foot of her bed and crawled under the covers. Her hands rested linked across her stomach. She thought back over a conversation she had held with her brother and Richard before they left. Derek had been unsure at first about her idea. Richard, bless his heart, had seen the merit and trusted Mikala. After much debate and questioning Derek reluctantly agreed in the end.
She had saved up her pin money and anything else she had been given over the years and had a nice little nest egg. Since Derek and Gabe’s shipping ventures seemed to be going so well, she wanted to invest. They all agreed that Gabe would not agree to her investing, so she created a false identity, decidedly male, to invest in the shipping business. Somehow Derek would convince Gabe of a third partner. She had trusted him to work his magic, and he did.
“How did you do it?” She had asked him excitedly the day before he left.
“Matthew Stanton is a fellow military man injured in battle. While away at war, a man involved his parents in a money making scheme leaving them destitute before he disappeared. Stanton is desperate to try to recover their losses. His parents conveniently are tenants of mine, which explains how he came to me for help.”
“You are brilliant,” she said with glee.
“Yes, well, I do have my moments. This way you can sign any correspondence with your initials and there is no chance you will forget,” he winced after realizing what he said. “Kala, I’m sorry.”
“Derek, stop. I can dictate, and if told where to place them, I can scrawl my initials. I am just so very excited!”
“I’m glad. I am proud of you, Mikala, for overcoming this situation,” she could hear the smile in his voice and felt the warmth of his hug. So it was with a little manipulation that Kala became a silent partner in Blackhawke Shipping. She hoped that within a few trips, she would be able to make enough money to live comfortably on her own wherever she chose to reside. Maybe she would even go on a grand tour after all this stuff with Napoleon came to an end and the world opened back up to visitors. Or she might even go to Egypt. It was turning in to quite a Mecca, especially as people began finding things thought to be long lost. Or she could even visit all the places supposed to be home to the famous King Arthur.
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